Convertible crane



.Sejat. 23, 1924. v 1,509,295 A. E. HOLCOMB ET AL CONVERTIBLE CRANE Filed Aug. 11, 1922 s Shee ts-Sheet 1 attozna-o Sept. 23 1924.

. A. E. HoLco B ET AL CONVERTIBLE CRANE Filed Aug; 11,-1922 5 Sheetg-Sheet 2 gnuc-nfoz Wzbcsa':

Sept. 23 .1924. 1,509,295

A. E. HOLCOMB ET AL CONVERTIBLE CRANE Filed Aug. 11, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3144x214 *oz Sept. 23 1924.

A. E. HOLCOMB ET AL CONVERTIBLE CRANE 192's 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug.' 11

Sept. 23, 1924. 1,509,295

A. E. HOLCOMB ET AL CONVERTIBLE CRANE '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 11, 19,22

anon 12144 Patented Sept."23,- 1924.

ALPHEUS E. HOLCOMB AND LESLIE A. smnoas T xoEnmNecomrANY, or

RUSSELL, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AS- MILWAUIKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

CONVERTIBLE cnAnE.

Application filed August 11, 1922. Serial No. 581,200.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALPHEUs E. Hon COMB and LESLIE A. RUssELL, citizens of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

v Cranes of the locomotive or portable type as commonly in use today may be divided into three main classes, viz, those for clamshell work which are especially designed for operating equipment comprising a clamshell bucket; drag-line excavating cranes, the

buckets of which ciple; and shovel type cranes which employ a dipper arm and bucket equipment, and are commonly known as power or steam shovels. The operating machinery of cranes of the above types is carried primarily in a car or body mounted on a suitable portable truck which may take a number of different forms dependent upon the particular character of work for which the machine is especially to be used. As a general thing tohereinbefore referred to, by which the particular typeof bucket equipment is operated, is designed for the actuation of its special bucket equipment, and no otherI In order to convert one kind of crane such as that for clam-shell bucket work into another kind of those noted, it has been proposed to remove and replace certain of the drum mech: 5 anism in the car or body of the crane and by so doing, with the change of the cable and bucket equipment itself, the crane may be used to do other kinds of work. The clamshell bucket operating crane may in this way be changed into 'a dra -line bucket crane.

However, the removal 9 one part of the machinery in the car or body of the crane and its replacement involve time taking operations of considerable expense, and the laying up of the machine temporarily for the purpose, with consequent loss incident to so doing.

The principal aim of the present inven-' tion has been to so design the general operating machinery of a crane for general excavating work, that said machinery will be capable of operating different types of bucket equipment without requiring modification of the design of the'machinery itself. In

5 others words, our'crane is convertible from operate on the drag prin-.

the machinery of each kind of crane our invention as herein ,line of 'claims nally appended hereto be read with one-capable of doing clam-shell work into one doing drag-line work, by the sim le substitution of the required types of uckets and proper training of cables into connection with the specially designed operating instrumentalities of the machinery on the car or body of the machine. Said machinery as regards its various cable drums and driving meansis not required to be changed by way of alteration or substitution of different parts, in any way. Likewise, by the placing into osition of a suitable boom, a dipper hand e and shovel, in lieu of the boom used forclam-sh'ell, drag-line, and other work, and the connection of the cables in a proper manner with the controlling drums ofthe car or body, our crane may be converted into a power shovel. I

By the reference to other work, above mentioned, we have in mind that the crane employed by us is of such .a construction as regards the boom equi ment, that the clam shell type may be rea ily converted into a crane for general hoisting work, as well as for pile driving and other kinds of work, owing to certain change speed provisions for the operating drums, as presented in the copending application of Alpheus E. Holcomb, filed February 2, 1922, Serial No. 533,633.

In so far as we are aware, our crane is the first one ever developed which is capable of conversion to' perform clam-shell, drag-line, and dipper shovel work,,without drum removals and replacements or other material modification of the machinery in the car body of the crane; nor are we advised that it has ever been proposed or accomplished heretofore, to devise a. crane which will without substantialchange of the operating machinbe adapted for doing clam-shell, drag- 17 line, ower shovel, general hoisting at vanous riving speeds, and pile driving work, with the most eflicient speed known fordoing each particular class of work. i

It is,therefore, desired .that the scope of 7 presented, be determined in the light of the foregoing outurpose and attainment, and that our said outline of invention in view.

In' the accompanying drawings: Figures 1,2, and 3 are general diagrammatic side views showing clam-shell, dragline, and power shovel cranes respectively. As regards the general features of the bucket or-fshovel equipment they are largely conventional, but are employed 1n con unct1on with the specially deslgned controlling ma.-

chinery admitting of the convertibility phases of action hereinbefore presented.

Figure .4 is a fragmentary side view somewhat similar to, the previous views but i1- lustrating. general hoisting tackle equipmentin the customary ;.operation of shovel type on the line 88 of Figure 7.

' elevation.

. cranes.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken about on the line 7-7.0f Figure 6.

Figure 8 1s a sectional view taken. about Figure 9 is a. fragmentary view of the main operating drum shaft and its operating drum equipment and controlling devices with certain parts broken away; to show more clearly what they look like in section, and said parts also il 11 Figure?) is a section taken about on the line 9-9 of Figure 9 and bringing out more clearly the planetary gearing cniployed.

Figure 10 is a view of a modified form of an operatin drum with a sprocket driving element app ied thereto.

T Figure 11 is a sectional view taken about on the line 11--11 o'f l igure-10,-showing a modified drive means for the shipper shaft.

Figure 12' is a sectional view of the mod ified form of auxil ary reversing drum on the boom.

F igure' 13 is a View similar to Fig. 9,

but showingstill another modified type of the shovel type machine.

operating druni in which a tag-line drum is utilized as a crowding drum and the main, operating drum employed for the racking in function, respecting the dipper stick of Figure 14 is a view of the planetary gearing and friction clutch mechanism illustrzated on a section taken thru the construction as shown in Fig. 13. Figure 15 is a detail view of certain cable tension means that may be ,used for the.

crowding and racking in cable.

Figure 16 a sectional view showing more clearly "t e cable tension meansnof A general understanding of the main opera-ting machinery of the crane, which is of "special design -involving largely many strated partially in 'o the features embodiedin the application previous,ly identified, must be had to com- -prehend the manner in which the "convert ibility effects of theinvention maybe ob- ,tained. 'Referring to Figure 5 thereof, A denotesthe car or body of the machine that is adapted. to turn in the usual way by means of the tum-table gear 1 and the] turning pinion 2, seen best in Figures 1 to 75..

3 inclusive, the same being operated reversibly in any suitable and '/conventional manner thru suitable driving connections with an engine 3 mounted in the body A.

The operating machinery includescertain drums which for the convenience of this description will be called the main operating drum 4 and the main hoistingdrum 5, the, former located in front of the latter and at a lower'elevation. I utilize change speed drive gearing intermediate the engine shaft 6 and the drums 4 and 5. This gearing may be briefly described as comprising the drive pinion 7 engaging'the-transmitting gear 8 which in turn engages the drive gear,9 cooperatingwith a high speed drive gear 10 located adjacent to one end of ,a jack-shaft 11. A clutch conventionally illustrated at 12' is adapted to operatively connect the gear 9 to ,the shaft 11. From the shaft 11 power may be transmitted for-driving the pinion '2 enabling turning of the body A-of the turntable, and swinging of its boom, in the well known manner. Also from the shaft 24 may be operated a hoisting drum (not shown) connected by a cable '13 with the peak of the boom 14, for peaking the point "of the boom in and out in the well known way. The gear 10 meshes with the high speed driven gear 15 on the countersha'lt .16 and the clutch 17 is adapted to connect the gear 15 with said counter-shaft 16. The shaft 11 carries on its right hand end opposite. that having the gear 10, a slow speed driving gear 18 adapted to be connected to. rotate with the shaft 11 by means of a clutch 19. A slow speed driven gear 20 meshes with thefg'ear 18 and may be connected with the shaft 16 by a clutch 21. The right hand portion of the shaft 16 is connected b a high and low speedgear 22 and a 'gear 2 with the shaft 24on which the hoisting drum 5 is mounted. This shaft 24 is geared to the main operating shaft 25 which carries the'main operating drum .4 by means of the gears.% and 27 keyed tothe shafts 24 and 25 respectively. The high speed drive; is'secured by clutch 12 being active, and adrive through gear 9, shaft 11, gear 10, gear 15, shaft'16 (clutch 17 active), gears 22, 23, and shaft 24. Low

,speed of drum drive is obtained through 5, a friction clutch 28 is employed, and for a like purpose, to connect the shaft with the main operating drum 4, a similar fric-' tion clutch 29 is utilized. The cable which winds about thedrum 5 is customarily a hoisting cable in its function irrespective of whatever the type of crane into which our machine is converted, may be. The cable which winds about the drum 4, however, performs a hoisting function largely when the machine is handling clam-shell bucket equipment; said cable, however, becomes a drag cable when the machine is doing dragline bucket work, under which conditions the drum 4 is adrag drum; and in regard to shovel work the cable winding about the drum 4 is operated with reverse driving connections thereon, under which conditions such cable and drum constitute combined crowding and racking in means for the dip per stick or arm of the shovel. I

The gearing which we have described in a general way, for driving the drums 4 and 5, may be of different kinds, the efiort herein being merely to set forth some conventional gearing enabling the transmission of difierent speeds from the engine 3 to the drums 4 and 5, high speed obtainable by using the high speed drive off the gear 10, and low speed used when theslorw speed drive off the gear '18 is employed. Any conventional means are utilized for operating the clutches or shifting the gears to obtain the change in speed ratios for the operation of the said drums 4 and 5. In the use of the clam-shell bucket equipment of Fig. 1, where high speed and less power are the requirements,

the high speed drive gearing will be placed in action for the operation of the drums 4 and 5 controlling the movement of the cables winding thereabout under the action of the friction clutches 28 and 29 that are operable from suitable levers in the lever assembly of the machine. The tag line shownin Fig. 1

winds about the ta line. drum} 31, shown best in Fig. 5, and a so in Figs. 9 and 13.

By merely changing the cable and bucket equipments of Fig. 1, a drag-line bucket and cable equipment maybe used in connection with the machineryofFig. 5, under which conditions the drum 4 becomes a drag drum as previously stated. f In this type crane it is only necessary to shift the clutches for the drive gearing 'so as to put into action the slow speed drive'g'ear 18 in connection with the gearing transmitting motion therefrom to the drums4 and 5, whereupon, the high speed gear 9 being inactive, the drums 4 and 5 will be operated at relatively slow speed with increased power as necessary to meet the usual requirementsof practice in dragline work.

' Thus far the drums 4 and 5, so far as their functions are concerned in the phases of converting the crane from a claim-shell to a drag-line bucket crane, might be stated to be ordinary drums in their construction and operation. However, the drum 4 is made of a special construction and with special associated planetary drive gearing in order that said drum may be operated in reverse directions to control the operation of a cable whichis adapted to'crowd out or project the dip er stick of a shovel, and rack in said st1c as necessary for shovel operations. In other words, while the driving of the drum in one direction is entirely sufficient for ordinary uses of this drum in hoisting, clam-shell, and drag-line work, the drum 4 must, be convertible into a reversible combined crowding and racking in drum in order that it may perform the requirements of power shovel work. The means by which we accomplish the foregoing represent an important feature of this invention. In practical efiect, it is by this means that we obtain highly important convertibility phases of operation of the main operating machinery of the crane.

Referring now to Figures 6, to 9 inclu sive, a preferred construction of the drum 4 will be described. This drum may be used with the interchan cable shovel boom equipment depicted in igures 3 and 6, as comprising the boom 32 and the dipper stick 33.

A shipper shaft 34 carries the auxiliary reversing drum 35 see Figures 7 and 8, the ends of the shaft 34 carrying the shipper block castings 36 that swing free on the shaft. Each of the castings 36 has a journal 37 on its inner side resting in a bearing on the adjacent side member of the boom 32. Crowding pinions 38 are mounted between the sides or jaws of the casting 36 and keyed to the shipper shaft 34 so as to be operated thereby, and these pinions 38 engage with the racks 39 on the lower side of the dipper stick 33. Crowding and racking in cables 40 and 41 respectively, each having one end thereof secured to the drum 35, wind about 7 said drum in opposite directions and alternately wind on and ofi' thereof during the turning of the drum. These cables 40 and 41 pass under fleeting sheaves 42 mounted near the base of the boom 32 and adjustable by suitable tension take up means designated 43. From the sheaves 42 the cables 40 and 41 pass upwards to the main 0 eratin drum 4 which when used with t e shove type equipment is a combined crowdin and racking in drum. Said cables 40 an 41 are secured to "wind about the drum 4 1n oppos1te directions, so that when the drum 4 1s turned which will compel a rotation of the drum 35 ing out of the dipper stick 33 in an obviousmanner. The normal forward drivin action of the drum 4 is preferably utilize for producing one of the movements of the dipper stick as above described, and the reverse operation is utilized to effect the crowdlng out movement. Said reverse 0 eration is obtained by employing certain p anetary gearing, best shown in Fig. 9, Where the construction will be seen to comprise the'outside band friction clutch 29 and driving gear 27 b which the drum 4 is ada ted to be rotate in one direction for win ing up one of the cable means by which the dipper stick is actuated. A winding of the other cable means to secure a reversin of the movement of. the dipper stick is e ected by certain planetary gearing now to be set forth. The planetary gearing includes a floating-spider 44 mounted on the shaft 12 which carries the drum 4, said spidersupporting the idler planetary gears 45 by means of the bearing pins 46. The idler gears 45 mesh with the inner or central drivmg gear 47 which is keyed to, the shaft 12 so that it revolves with the gear 27 that is also keyed on said shaft, being driven from the engine in a manner heretofore fully explained. When it is desired to wind up the crowding cable the drum 4 may be operated for this purpose by. actuationof the planetary brake band 48 to engage it with the periphery of the spider 44, thereby holding said spider stationary. Under these conditions of course the gear 47 continuing to revolve with the shaft12, rotates the idler gears and transmits movement therefrom to the internal gear 49 which meshes therewith and is attached to the end of the drum 4 opposite that with which the friction clutch use sprocket chain driving means intermeed on the diate the drums 4 and 35, in substitution for the cable driving means which have thus far been described. .In the said modification it is contemplated to detacnably secure to. the drum 4a sectional sprocket. wheel 51. A sprocket chain 52 may be engaged with said wheel 51 and extend over suitable transmitting sprockets at the baseof the boom upwards to a :plecial sprocket wheel 53 mountpper shaft 34 instead of the drum 35.

Again in Figures 13 to 16 inclusive, there is shown .a further modification'of the driving means for the drum 4 enabling it to be for crowding out the dipper stick by winding on the drum the crowdin cable 40. The planetary clutch is designate 54, the s ider 55, the planetary-idler gears 56, their earing pins 57, and the inner planetary driving gear 58. The action of these parts is substantially like the planetary gearing previously referred to'.- The main operating drum 4-in this construction is utilized for winding up the racking incable 41 and said drum 4 is provided with the special brake 55' to perform the function of the brake 50, namely, as .a holding means for maintaining the dipper stick in a stationary position.

The parts 2? and 29 -in Figure 13, operate substantially as those parts have been explained hereinbefore.

In Figures 13 and 14 the internal gear is designated at 59 and is carried by the tagline drum 31, of course. 60 denotes a winchhead which in one form or another is employed in the different constructions of our invention, for the usual purpose of a member of this sort. j p

It will be evident from the'foregoing that the reversing operations of the main operating drum 4' are only utilized in the power shovel adaptation of our crane construction. When the crane is used for hoisting,

clam-shell, and drag-line classes of work, the normal drive of the drum 4 in one direction is availed of, though of course the speed. of the drum is varied in accordance with the demands of the work, as to whether speed is desired at the sacrifice of power, or power at the sacrifice of speed.

It .is of course possible that under certain conditions of extension of the uses of crane for workof. different kinds the adaptability of the drum 4 to be operated in reverse directions may be of s ecial advantage other than has been speci cally set forth herein. It will be evident, however, that the particular means utilizedby us to-transmit the reverse driving effects of the drum 4 to the dipper stick 33 may be considerably varied within the purview of the invention.

It is notable that the planetary gearing herein set forth not only enables a reversing action of the drum 4, but affords -a gear reduction at the same time which is especially useful, if not necessary, for the efficient crowding out operation in the power shovel ada tat'ion of the machine.

aving thus described ourinvention, what weclaimas new and desire to secure by Letters'Patent, is;

r 1. A crane comprising a bodyan'd interchangeable clam-shell, drag-line, and shovel cable and bucket apparatuses therefor, and

operating mechanism adapted to operate any one of said apparatuses, with difierent drlving speeds for the clam-shell and dragline apparatuses.

2. A crane comprising a body, changeable boom and bucket apparatuses for clam-shell and power shovel work, and operating means on the body for actuating at different speeds either type of such apparatuses when placed in position on the body. I 3. A crane comprising a body, interchangeable boom and bucket apparatus, for drag-line and power shovel work, and variable speed means on the body for'actuating either type of such apparatuses \vhen placed in position on the body. 4. A crane comprising a car, and operating machinery thereon including hoisting and mainoperating drums, and means to drive said drums at variable speeds for theoperation of clam-shell or drag-line bucket equipment, and for driving one of the drums reversibly for the operation of phwer shovel equipment.

5. A crane comprising operating machinery including operating drums for actuation of clam-shell, drag-line, and shovel types of bucket equipments, and means to changeably actuate the drums to enable them to properly actuate-any one of the above types of bucket equipment.'

6. In combination, a crane comprising hoisting and main operating,drums, bobm equipment including interchangeable cable and bucket devices of the clam-shell and drag-line types, otherboom equipment including power shovel, cable, dipper arm,

and dipper devices usable in substitution for the first named boom equipment, and means to control said drums to cause proper operation of said boom equipments, whichever maydbe desired to be employed, at different s es s.

7. In combination, a crane comprising hoisting and niainoperating drums, boom equipment including interchangeable cable, 7 and bucket devices of the clam-shell and dra -line types, other boom equipment inclu ing power shovel, cable, I dipper arm, and dipper devices usable in substitution for the first named'boom equipment, and means to control said drums to cause proper operation of said boom equipments, ever may be desired to be employed, comprising variable speed means for the drums for their actuation when either the clamshell or drag-lips means is used, and reversible mechahmmfo'r driving one of the drums tor employment when'the shovel type of means is availed of.

8. In a crane, the combination of hoisting and operating drums, change speed means iritermechanisms which for driving them 'at high and low speeds,

9. In a crane the combination of hoist- I ing and operating drums, change speed means for driving them at high and low speeds, means to drive one of the drums in a reversible manner, and diflerent cable and bucket equipments interchangeably cooperative with the drums, and with either 01 both the change speed and reversible means for the drums, dependent upon which ofthe said equipments is availed of.

10. In a crane of the class described, the combination of a body, boom and bucket mechanisms of vdiii'erent types adapted to be connected thereto, operating machinery on the body comprising amotor, main hoisting and operating drums, change speed gearing connecting said motor with said drums for operating the latter at different speeds according to the particular type of boom and bucket mechanism associated therewith, and means whereby one of the drums may be reversibly operated according to a certain class of boom and bucket mechanism that may be connected up for operation under the'control of the said drums.

'11. In a crane of the class described, the combination of the body, boom and bucket of difi'erent types adapted to be connected thereto, operating machinery on the body comprising a motor, main hoisting and operating drums, change speed gearing connecting'said motor with said drums for operating the latter at different speeds according to the particular type of boom and bucket mechanism associated therewith, and

. means whereby one of the drums may be reversibly operated according to a certain class of boom and, bucket mechanism that may be connected up for operation under the control of the said drums, the last mentioned means including planetary gearing co operative with one of thedrums to re equipment including interchangeable cable and bucket devices of the clam-shell and drag-line types, other boom equipment including power shovel, cable dipper arm,

, hoisting and main operating drums, boom speeds, means to drive one of the drums in ments is availed of.

means for employment when the shovel type boom equipment is used.

14. In a crane, the combination of hoisting and operating drums, change speed means for driving them at high and low a reversible manner, and with a change of speed different from those above mentioned, and different cable and bucket equipments interchangeably co-operative with the drums, and with either or both the change speed and reversible means for the drums, dependent upon which of the said equip 15. In combination, a cranecomprising a car, and operating machinery thereon for operation of different types of boom and bucket equipments, comprising a main operating drum for cable means adapted to operate'an excavating bucket, and a driving member on' said drum for operating the shipper shaft by which a dipper stick of a shovel may be racked in or crowded out,

means detachably securing the said driving member to the drum enabling its removal when the ,drum is to operate the cable of an excavating bucket instead of said; dipper stick, and means-for operating the drum in reverse directions.

-16. In combination, a-"crane comprising a car, and operating machinery thereon for operation of .difi'erent types of boom and bucket equipments. comprising a main operating drum for cable means adapted to opera'te an excavating bucket, and a driving member on said drum for operating the shipper shaft by which a dipper stick of a shovel may be racked in or crowded out, means detachably securing the" said driving member to the drum enabling its removal when the drum is to operate the cableof an excavating bucket instead of said dipper stick, and means for operating the drum in'reverse directions at a high speed when the detachable driving member is used and is causing racking in of the dipperstick, and at reduced speed when said driving member is crowding out the dipper stick.

17. In combination, a crane comprising a car, and operating machinery thereon for operation of different types of boom and bucket equipments, comprising a main hoisting drum and a main operating drum,.the latter adapted for coo eration to drive difierent kinds of boom, and ucket-equipments includ the operating drum, a driving member on "ing clam-shell, drag-line, and shovel types, 1

special means to eifect reverse operations of the said operating drum, a shovel boom and bucket equipment including a dipper stick. and shipper mechanism. for racking and crowding out said stick, means connecting the sh1p er mechamsnr and said driving member or actuating the. dipper stick, and;

.operation of different types of boom and bucket equipments, comprising a'main hoisting drum and a main operating drum, the latter adapted for cooperation to drive different kinds of boom and bucket equipments" including clam shell, drag-line, and

shovel types, special means to effect reverse operations of the operating ,drum', at different speeds, a driving member on the said operating drum, a shovel boom and bucket equipment including a dipper stick and shipper mechanism for'racking in and crowding I out said stick, means for actuating the dipper stick. and means to detach the driving member from its drum so an operating cable of clam-shell or drag-line excavating buckets may be directly connected therewith and opera-ted thereby.

-19. In combination, a crane comprising a car, and operating machinery thereon for operation of different types of boom and bucket equipments, comprising a main hoistmg drum and a main operating drum, op-

erable at different speeds. to produce the highest efiicient speed operations, interchangeably, of. clam shell and drag-line bucket equipments, the latter adapted for co-operation to drive difi'erent 'kindsof 10 boom and bucket equipments including clam-shell, drag-line, and shovel types, special means to efiect reverse operations of the operating drum, a driving member on the said" operating drum. a' shovel boom" and bucket equipment including a dipper stick and shipper mechanism for racking in and crowding out said stick, means connecting the shipper mechanism. and

sticln'and means to detach'the driving member from its drum so an operating cable of said driving member for actuating th PP F I clam-shell or drag-line excavating buckets may be directly connected therewith. and

operated thereby.

20. In combination,-a crane comprising a car, and operating machinery thereon for operation of difierent types of boom and bucket equipments, comprising a main hoisting drum and a main operating drum, the latter adapted for co-operation to drive different kinds of boom and bucket equipments including clam-shell, drag-line, and shovel types, special means to effect reverse operations of the operating drum, means to operate the operating drum at desired speed for clam-shell and drag-line Work, means enabling reverse motion of the operating drum car, and operating machinery thereon for operation of different types of boom and bucket equipments, comprising a main hoisting drum and a main operating drum,

the latter adapted for co-operation to drive different kinds of boom and bucket equipments including clam-shell, drag-line, and shovel types, special means to effect reverse operations of the operating drum means to operate the operating drum at different speeds, high speed for clam-shell Work and low speed for drag-line Work, means enabling reverse motion of the operating ,drum' at diiferent speeds for dipper shovel Work to operate the shipper mechanism of a dipper stick, and said operating drum being constructed to receive driving equipment for the actuation of either clam-shell or drag-line, and dipper shovel e uipment.

In testimony whereof We a x our\signatures.

ALP-HEUS E. HOLCOMB. LESLIE A. RUSSELL. 

